George Poinar Jr
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This is the oldest example of an ant infected by a fungal parasite ever discovered.
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Nationalgeographic.co.id—Scientists have identified a new species mushroom extinct parasite. Species mushroom it comes from the back ant 50 million years old. Everything is perfectly preserved in vein.
Ant most likely died from infection mushroom. Coincidentally, it stuck to the tree resin shortly after. This is an example of a parasite mushroom oldest ever found in ant.
New species mushroom the researchers named it Allocordyceps baltica – Allocordyceps translates to “new genus” in Greek and baltica refers to the Baltic region where amber is found.
Oregon State University entomologist George Poinar Jr explains that this type of discovery is extremely rare. Yellow resin contains cell and tissue repairing chemicals that can destroy microbes and decompose specimens.
Furthermore, Pioneers said mushroom Parasites are difficult to find and study because they have a short life cycle.
But we all endured some growth mushroom in our bodies. Insects are great hosts for this type of parasite because they are readily available and provide a rich source of nutrients,” Poinar said Live Science.
Ant carpenters of the genus Camponotus, as trapped in vein is a common host mushroom modern parasites of the genus Ophiocordyceps, which also belong to the same order as A. baltica.
“I was quite happy when I realized that mushroom this particular spread so far,” Poinar said.
Although A. baltica likely extinct, the lineage could have evolved into the modern Ophiocordyceps. But this statement can not be proven genetically.
The main difference between A. baltica and Ophiocordyceps is where mushroom they emerge from ant. Mushroom, or ascomata, act as reproductive organs mushroom, releasing spores into the environment.
Mushroom Ophiocordyceps grow ascomata around the neck and head ant the host. Then mushroom hijack brain ant host in the form of mind control, which is used mushroom to force ant biting the plant place ant other carpenters lay eggs.
Also Read: Caviar Escamoles from Velvet Tree Ants for a Hundred Dollars
George Poinar Jr.
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Side view of a carpenter ant fossil infected with A. baltica.
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This allows the fungi to release their spores in areas of high concentration of potential new hosts.
It’s not clear why A. baltica grow ascomata through the ant’s rectum, although Poinar suspects that might allow the fungus to keep its host alive for a longer time, meaning it has more time to distribute spores.
“The rectum is already open while the fungus has to penetrate the head capsule to get out through the head. That will allow the ants to survive a few more days, because once the fungus enters the ant’s head, the ant will die,” he said.
Although reproductive ascomata emerge through the petrified rectum of the ant, there is evidence that the fungus spreads throughout the ant’s body.
The dense plate stromata of the vegetative part of the fungus, known as the mycelium, can be seen protruding from the ants on the abdomen and back of the neck. The researchers also found the presence of sacs where reproductive spores would be produced in the stomach and neck.
“This will cause the infected ants to be slow and terrible. When hyphae (branched filaments of mycelium) spread throughout the body, they will turn the tissue into a fungal stage, not cancer cells,” Poinar concluded.
Also Read: Six Interesting Facts about Ants You Need to Know, What are they?
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